Jesus Entered Jericho and Was Passing Through

GOSPEL OF LUKE

Chapter 19

19:1 And He entered and was passing through Jericho.

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.

19:1-10 To finance their great world empire, the Romans levied heavy taxes on all nations under their control. The Jews opposed these taxes because they supported a secular government and its pagan gods, but they were still forced to pay. Tax collectors were among the most unpopular people in Israel. Jews by birth, they chose to work for Rome and were considered traitors. Besides, it was common knowledge that tax collectors were making themselves rich by gouging their fellow Jews. No wonder the people muttered when Jesus went home with the tax collector Zacchaeus. But despite the fact that Zacchaeus was both a cheater and a turncoat, Jesus loved him; and in response, the little tax collector was converted. In every society, certain groups of people are considered “untouchable” because of their political views, their immoral behavior, or their life-style. We should not give in to social pressure to avoid these people. Jesus loves them, and they need to hear his Good News.

TODAY IN THE WORD

In 1947 a Bible distribution worker traveled deep into the mountains of the eastern U.S., where he came upon a tiny, isolated settlement. When he asked the people if they had Bibles, he was met with puzzled looks. Then he asked them if they had heard of Jesus. through here.

We feel sure that no one by the name of Jesus has gone through.” have not heard the name of Jesus. That faithful Bible worker certainly had good news to bring to those mountain dwellers! after meeting Him. government. More than that, Zacchaeus was a “chief” collector who probably supervised other collectors. Since these people were well-known for extorting more taxes than were due, Zacchaeus was part of a despised band of Israelites. Zacchaeus is most famous for being short. undeserving sinner. Change the names, the details, and the era, and Zacchaeus’s story is the story of us all. Jesus came to save people just like Zacchaeus—because as we said earlier this month, there is only one category of sinners: lost sinners. of Zacchaeus.

Upon hearing this, Jesus announced that salvation had come to this man and his household. Does that mean Zacchaeus was saved by repaying his victims? No, not any more than the rich young ruler would have been saved by selling his possessions (see December 18). evidence of his inward change. Zacchaeus met Jesus—and was never the same again.

C. H. Spurgeon

There was to be a miracle at each end of Jericho. Long before, it had been cursed; now it was to have a double blessing.

And so came out at the other end of it.

TODAY IN THE WORD

Last year a team of experts finished restoring a priceless thirteenth-century fresco that had fallen from the ceiling of St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy. This magnificent work by the great painter Giotto was destroyed by an earthquake in 1997, falling several stories from the ceiling to the floor. But the restoration team spent five years painstakingly reassembling the fresco from fifty thousand fragments.

It takes a lot of love and patience to complete a work like this. It also takes a lot of love and patience to restore human lives that have been shattered by sin, and Jesus is the only one who can complete this restoration project. In the case of Zacchaeus of Jericho, the tax collector and famous climber of trees, Jesus didn’t need five years. He restored Zacchaeus in a single day during a visit to this famous city where Joshua had brought down the walls centuries earlier.

You may be wondering in what way Zacchaeus’s life was shattered and needed to be put back together. He certainly did not appear to be in need, at least to the people around him. His business of collecting taxes for Rome was booming, and as a chief tax collector, Zacchaeus had other collectors reporting to him (v. 2). The problem was that if you didn’t watch him closely, your taxes could go up without warning. In other words, this wealthy man was dishonest, which he admitted by his statement in verse 8. His heart was shattered by sin and greed, and Jesus could see its true condition. It seems that Zacchaeus was eager to see Jesus because of the Savior’s fame, but God was also preparing Zacchaeus’s heart. His delight at being Jesus’ host for dinner suggests that he was ready to hear the Lord’s words of life.

Jericho—“point” (Joshua 5-6). When Joshua went to reconnoiter Jericho he was met by a Figure holding a drawn sword. This Figure announced that He Himself was “Commander of the army of the Lord” (Joshua 5:14). Joshua bowed low, to await orders.

From a military standpoint, the orders this captain gave were ridiculous. Joshua was to march the people of Israel around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. On these circuits no one was to make a sound. On the seventh day, seven circuits were to be made. Then, at a signal, all the people were to shout. And, so the promise, when the people shouted, the walls of the city would fall down. Israel could then attack and was to utterly destroy the city, saving only those in Rehabs house. Nothing was to be salvaged. No booty was to be taken. All was to be destroyed.

Joshua may have felt foolish giving such orders. And Israel may have felt foolish too. Certainly, after a day or so of fearful observation, the people of Jericho would have become bolder and in relief have shouted out taunts and ridicule.

But Joshua was strong enough to do what he had been commanded. And the people too obeyed.

On the seventh day, when the people shouted with a great shout, the walls did come tumbling down.

It is this kind of belief, which expresses itself in obedience even when the nature of the command seems foolish or unclear, that is the kind of “trust” God calls all of us to have in Him.

TODAY IN THE WORD

What’s in a name? For Moody student Sugar Lanauze, a miracle from God. Sugar was born with diabetes. Her missionary parents began to pray, asking the Lord to heal her, if that was His will. They visited doctors and hospitals, but these couldn’t help their baby. Medical advice and various drugs accomplished nothing.

But, says Sugar, “my parents remained in steadfast prayer. And one sweet day God healed me from diabetes! This is why my parents named me Sugar, so that I would never forget about God, Jesus Christ, who healed all of my illness! God is a God of power, and I am a perfect example of His power and faithfulness.”

Names are important. During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He often referred to Himself as the “Son of Man.” This title was integrally connected with His mission of salvation, as we see in today’s reading (cf. Dan. 7:13-14).

Our topic this month is the humanity of Christ. As Charles Ryrie has said, Christ is “undiminished deity and perfect humanity united in one Person forever.” We’ll be focusing on the second half of that description, with the purpose of better knowing our Lord and Savior.

The theological truth of Christ’s humanity has powerful implications. Jesus is our brother, not some distant being. He is also an appropriate model for us to imitate–sometimes we get so caught up in the truth of His divinity that we forget this. As Jesus walks with us through the events of our lives, these implications should transform our faith.

That was certainly the effect that Jesus had on Zacchaeus. In the prosperous city of Jericho, Zacchaeus was a tax collector, a hated occupation under Roman rule. Nonetheless, Jesus honored him by going as a guest to his home.

As a result, Zacchaeus was spiritually transformed. His life immediately changed–he gave to the poor and made restitution for his wrongs.

C. H. Spurgeon

Remember that the Lord Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, to suffer and to die; and there he was the patient, suffering Lamb of God; but here he speaks in that commanding tone which well became the Prince of the House of David: “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”

Jesus Christ had just blessed a blind man who was poor, so poor that he was a common wayside beggar; will he bless the rich man, too? Oh, yes! He knows no distinction of persons, he is ready to bless all classes; whether they be rich or poor is nothing to him.

TODAY IN THE WORD

C. H. Spurgeon

Many of those tax-gatherers were rich; they usually farmed the taxes, and took care to extort all that they possibly could out of the poverty of the people.

TODAY IN THE WORD

Have you ever gone shopping with a picture in your mind of exactly what you want to buy? You go to the mall, from store to store, in search of this one special item. I bet I could get it cheaper somewhere else. So you go to a few stores...never finding anything even similar to what you wanted were out of it and won't be getting any more in stock. Why do we wait in these cases? Given the uncertainty of life, delaying life's most important decision is a risk that does make any sense. went to Jericho and found this short tax collector whose dealings often left other people short in the pocketbook. Zacchaeus didn't know it, but the day of Jesus visit was the day of his opportunity for salvation.

To his credit, Zacchaeus did not miss the offer of forgiveness Jesus made him. today twice in this brief account (vv. 5, 9). He wanted to go to Zacchaeus house that very day because He had something Zacchaeus needed: salvation. When the tax man expressed the sincerity of his repentance, Jesus emphasized that the greatest transaction Zacchaeus would ever make had been completed that day. he let none of them stand in his way. We aren't told all that was discussed at that dinner, but the response of Zacchaeus tells us all we need to know. obeyed. And when he saw his sin for what it was, Zacchaeus did not delay his repentance.

The urgency applies to us as believers too. Is there a particular person you have been putting off witnessing to for whatever reason? of today's lesson, we can't afford to delay in telling those around us about Christ. Today, ask God to remove whatever barrier is keeping you from offering that difficult witness and pray that His Holy Spirit will prepare the heart of your unsaved friend for the gospel.

19:2 And behold, there was a man called by the name of Zacchaeus; and he was a chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich.

A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

C. H. Spurgeon

That is, tax-gatherers. As they often were, for they farmed the taxes, and then squeezed every farthing they could out of the people.

It was an important station for the collection of customs; there was a good deal of produce at Jericho upon which there was a tax, so Zacchaeus had a good post: he was rich.

ZACCHAEUS (Zach chee’uhs) Greek form of Hebrew name meaning, “innocent.” A corrupt tax collector in first-century Jericho (Luke 19:2-9). Out of curiosity he went to hear Jesus. Because of his short stature he had to climb a tree to catch a glimpse of the Lord. To his surprise Jesus called him by name to come down and went home with Zacchaeus. There the official believed and was converted. As a result of his newfound faith, he restored with interest the money he had taken illegally.

19:3 And he was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.

He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.